Vertical coking-retort oven



July 1, 1930. J. VAN ACKEREN VERTICAL COKING RETORT OVEN Filed Nov. 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SECTION-5f.

J W-v ww y 1930- J. VAN ACKEREN 1,769,810 4 VERTICAL COKING RETORT OVEN Filed NOV- 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. W

W 1mm! BYMJq. WW

2d ATTORNEYS.

tion may be practiced Patented July 1, 193,0

' pair ATES- ATENT OFFICE JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPERS COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA VERTICAL COKING-RETOBAT OVEN Application filed November hcating walls.

in the preferred embodiment of the invention a transverse channel extends transversely to at least four heating Walls and receives the waste gases exhaustedfrom heating walls connected to on regenerators and directs said waste gases into heating walls connected to ofi-regenerators, the transverse channel being thus always traversed by waste gases. p v

A single transverse channel connected to all the heating walls of'a battery may be used, or in large batteries more than one such channel, eachconnected to at least four heating walls, may be employed.

in the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification and showing, for purposes of exeinplification'. only the preferred form and manner in whichthe inven- Figurefllis a vertical sectional elevation taken longitudinally of a retort in a plane indicated by the line EEof Fig. 3, of an apparatusqin accordance with said form, f Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in the horizontal plane indicated by the lineK fK inFigpl; Fig. 3 is a composite horizontal section taken in the different horizontal planes indicated by the lines'A'-A, B B, C C and Fig. is a vertical section taken longi tndinally through a vertical flue in a plane indicated bythe line G-G of Fig. .3; V Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken trans- 18, 1925. Serial No. 69,928.

versely through the regenerators in a plane indicated by the line L-L of Fig. 8.

The same characters of reference designate the same parts in each of the several views of the drawings. I

In its present embodiment, the invention is incorporated in a vertical retort battery of the special construction described in my copending application, filed J anuary 24, 1924, Serial No. 684,342, for producing metallurgical coke and designed for the employment of the combination oven principle'in volving the alternative use of an extraneously derived relatively lean gas, or with a relatively rich gas fort'uel. The invention however is capable of other valuable applications, for example, to apparatus generallyuseful in the heat treatment of materials, or to constructions providing for heating solely with relatively lean gas according to the gas oven principle, or to construction providing for the heating solely with relatively rich gas according to the coke oven principlef Referring to the drawings, there are shown viewsot' a vertical retort battery of the byproduct type, as hereinbefore mentioned.

The vertical retort battery comprises in its construction a series of distilling chambers, such as the series 11 of vertically elongated retorts or coking chambers, the retorts of the series being contiguous to intermediate heating walls 12. The heating walls12 form the side walls of the respective retort chambers 11, both being preferably substantially rectangular in horizontal section and elongated transversely of the battery structure but rel: atively narrow longitudinally of said battery, as shown in Fig. 3. The heating walls and the retort chambers extendto a great height as compared with their horizontal dimensions, and the retorts 11 are tapered toward the top, to facilitate passage of the materialbeingtreated from top to bottom of the retort. According tothe present embodiment of the invention, the series-of retorts and corresponding intermediate heating walls are respectively arranged :and extend along one. side of the battery assembly, as shown in Fig. 3, whereas the regenerators extend along the othersideotthe battery as sembly. The outer ends of the respective retorts as well as the heating walls are closed by the side refractory wall structure, indicated at 15 and the inner ends of said heating walls and coking chambers are separated from the series of regenerators by the interior refractory wall structure 16, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The outer ends of the regenerators are elo rsed by the side refractory wall struct'u' ,1

i e coal to be coked is charged into the u per ends of the retorts 11 and the complhted coke is discharged through openlngs at the bottom of said retorts. Because of the great height of the retorts as compared with theirhorizontal dimensions, the retort battery is preferably employed as a continuous vertical retort, with consequent great capacit! for coke and by-product production. When so employed, a continuous feed of carbonaceous material may be maintained through the retorts 11, with continuous discharge of the finished coke from the bottoms of such retorts.

' The heat for coking the charges of coal in the several retorts 11 is derived from the heating walls 12 corresponding to said retorts. Each heating wall 12 is constituted of aplurality of upper flue sections 37 and a hiraiity of lowerflue sections 38, the former 'ng connected with the latter in such a mannet as to form continuous vertical flue passages extending from top to bottom of the heatin walls. As shown in Fig. 1,'the flue 35 sections 37 and38 are of substantially equal length, the flue sections 38 extendingupward- 1% to a horizontal plane substantially midway t e top and bottom of the heating wall, and the up r flue sections 37 extend from said lower ue sections 38 to the top 39 of the batterystructure. The flues of both upper and has sections 37 and 38 of a heating wall are operatively disposed in a single group, that isto say, all of said flue sections operate concurrently for flow in the same direction; :zwever, according to the invention, the fiues half the number of adjacent heating walls, for example the group K (see Fig. 3) operatefor downflow combustion, or as downflow no flame lines, while the flues of the other half of thenumber of heatin walls, for example group L, operate or upflow of waste 1 v c or as exhaust fl'ues. After reversal the ues'of the heating wall group L become 55 dowrgfldw flame fines and the fines of the heating all group K become upflow exhaust fiu'egi According to this mode of operation,

"-anyereversal period some of the re- M u re M are receiving flame heat 80 from heati'n Walls on both sides, the midffietort chum t N is receiring flame heat side only,and other retort chamscenes are located between upflow exhaust gas flues. However, as the reversals Ii at regular intervals all the retort chambers are subjected during the coking period to substantially equal exposure to the heat of burning flame.

As shown in Fig. 4 each upper flue section 37 is connected by a pair of passages 40 with the lower flue section 38 to form a continuous flue channel. at the sides of the nozzle block 41 set in the flue channel at the point where the upper flue section 37 merges into the lower flue section 38 and substantially midway the top and bottom of the heating wall. At their hottoms the lower flue sections 38 of each of the heating walls are respectively connected by ports 42 with a horizontal channel 43 extending longitudinally of the heating wall. According to the present invention the horizontal channels 43 of at least four adjacent heating walls, and in the illustrated instance all of the horizontal channels 43 of the battery, are connected to a channel or passageway 144 which extends transversely through the intermediate wall structure 16, as shown in Fig. 3. By this arrangement, the bottoms of the burning lower flue sections 38 of the heating wall group K are connected with the bottomsof upflow. lower flue sections 38 in the heating wall group L by means of the said passageway. 144 which conveys the waste gases from the former to the latter flue sections. 7

Asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, the regenerators 45 are locatedin asingle series along one side of,the battery, with the major vertical plane of the regenerators parallel to the major vertical planes of the retorts and heating walls. Operatively, the series of regenerators 45 is arranged into two groups R and S, each group comprising four regenerators. The regenerators of the group R are segregated at one end,

. and those of the group S at the other end, of

the row as shown in Fig. 3. When the several re enerators of the group R are operating for 1n ow, that is to say, for delivering preheated gaseous media to the flues of the heating walls,

he several regenerators of the other group S are operating for outflow to extract heat from the gases discharged into the regenerators from the flues. On reversal of the battery, at the end of each operating period, the inflow regenerators become outflow regenerators and the outflow regenerators become inflow regenerators.

Each. regenerator 45 is preferably a high A narrow upright chamber substantially rectangula'r'in horizontal section and containing open brickwork or checkerwork and having a sole channel 47 underneath and opening up Into the checkerwork. The several regenerators are heated by the hot combustion products that are exhausted from the flame or combustion flues 'liereinbefore mentioned and then, on reversal, impart heat to the medium that they feed to the flues. Whether of the group R or of the group S, the regenerators The passages 40 are located I are all so connected with appropriate flues,

that the infiowalways takes place in an upward direction through the regenerators, whereas the outflow is always downwardly through said regenerators.

In the operation of the battery, when an extraneously derived gas, such as producer gas is employed, the several regenerators of the group R, when in inflow operation, deliver air and fuel gas to the flame flues of the heating walls K during the period when the latter are operating for'downflow combustion; these regenerators R receive the exhaust gases from the flame flues of the heating walls K, after reversal, that is to say, during the period when the flame flues of said walls K are operating for upflow exhaust of waste gases. On the other hand, the several regenerators of the group Soperate for inflow of air and fuel gas to deliver the same to the flues of the heating walls L, when the latter are operating for downflow combustion, and the said regenerators S operate for outflow to receive the exhaust gases from the flues of said heating walls L during the period when the latter are 7 operating for upflow exhaust of waste gases. This method of operation permits all the regenerators of the battery to be directly connected at their upper ends to the tops of the heating walls and by said connections to the tops of theupper flue sections 37 which said regenerators serve.

During producer gas operation, the several regenerators of each group R or S are constitutedof two air re enerators A and two.

gas regenerators P, when operating for in-' flow, and allthe regenerators of either group inflow while at the same time the several reflow function while concurrently the other.

regenerators R are changed to the outflow function.

Each regenerator A whether of the group R or of the group S leads at'its upper end into a duct 53, which duct 53 is directly connected with the'hori'zontal flues 5-1 at the top of theheating wall 11 corresponding to'said regenerator. Tn like manner, each regenera tor'P, whether of the group Ber S,'leads at its 'upperien'd into a duct 63 directly connected with the horizontal channel 64 at t top of the heating wall corresponding to said regenerator. Thus all the connections between the regenerators and the heating walls extend directly from the top of the former to the top of the latter; Each heating wall 11 has a pair of suchhorizontal channels 54 and 64: leading respectively from regenerators A and'P of the group corresponding to said heating wall.- The horizontal channel 54 of each heating wall is directl connected with the tops of the several upper flue sections 37 by ports and the horizontal channel (it is likewise directly connected with the tops of said upper flue sections 37 by ports 65. By this arrangement the tops of the upper flue sections 87 of each heating wall are directly connected with a pair of regenerators A and P, when the flue sections are operating for downflow combustion, or \VVV when the line sections operating for upflow exhaust of waste gases. As shown in 7 and 8 the ports 55 and 65 leading into the flue sections 37 of each heating wall are each provided with plugs 66 having inclined faces 67. This construction provides flaring nozzles in the ports 55 and 65 to direct the air and gas, or air dunn coke oven gas operaj tion, into the center of the corresponding flue section with the required velocity. The draft through the ports 55 and 65 may be regulated by slide bricks positioned in the bottoms of the horizontal lines 54 and .64.

Means are provided for leading gaseous media, for example air and producer gas, from the tops of the inflow regenerators di rectly to the tops of the lower flue sections 38 of the downflow operating heating walls. By this construction, additional supplies of air and fuel gas are introduced midway the tops and bottoms of the continuous vertical flue channels and downburning flame is pro longed throughout substantially the entire extent of the flue channels. Referring par-- ticularlyto Figs. 3 and-7, the horizontal channel 5a of each heating wall is connected. by a series of ports '71 with a seriesof vertical feed channels 72 located between the flue channels. Similarly the horizontal channel 6-1 of each heating wall is connected by a series of ports 81 with a series of similar vertical feed channels 82. As shown in 1 the vertical feed channels 72 and 82 extend down to the bottoms of the upper flue sec tions37 and the channels 72 and 82 of each adjacent pair are provided-with ducts which converge into and through the nozzle block ll at the top of the lower flue section 38. By this construction, each lower flue section 38 is provided at its top with duct connections leading from a pair of feed channels 72 and 82 and through, these channels with separate horizontal flues 5d and 64 leading from separate regenerators. As shown in Fig: 1,'the interior feed channels 72 and 82 are provided with a pairot diverging dncts respectively leading through'the-nozzle blocks ll of adjacent flue sections, whereas the feed channels on the opposite errtrei 1e ends of the heating walls are only required to have one, duct, f

Inf operating with extraneously derived producer gas, the invention thus provides sup ply connections to the tops of each downburning lower flue section 38 for permitting producer gas and air to flow from separate producer gas and air regenerators P and A and to propagate additional flame in the downburning lower flue sections. Any waste gases from the upper flue sections 37 together with the waste gases from the bottom of the lower flue sections 38, of the downburning heating walls, pass through the ports 42 into the horizontal channels 43 in the bottoms of the downburning heating walls and thence through the transverse passage 144 into the similar channels 43 in the upflow operating heating Walls. From the channels 43 of the upfiow operating heating walls the waste gases pass throu h the ports 42 and thence u wardly throu the lower flue sections 38 0? said walls. t the tops of the lower flue sections 38, the waste gases discharge through the side assages and into the upper flue. sectionsii andfeed channels72and82. Passing upwardly through the outer flue sections 37 and feed channels 72 and 82, the waste gases discharge at the tops of: the upflow operating heating walls into the horizontal flues 54 and 64, through which the waste gases are conveyed to the waste gas regenerators. Passing downwardly through the waste gas regenerators W the waste gases heat up the checkerwork for the next inflow operating period of said regenerators. The draft through the orts 71' and 81 which connect the horizonta flues 54 and 64 with the vertical feed channels 72 and 82 may be regulated by slide bricks sitioned in, the bottoms of the horizontal ucs 54 and 64. Inspection ducts 86 extending through the top 39 of the battery structure and positioned over the ports and of each heating wall afford access to the interior of the horizontal flues w, 54 and 64, for the purpose of variably ad- Justlng the shde bricks.

Provisionis made for operating the bat-- tdry alternatively with a relatively rich gas, such as coke oven as and for supplying said I gastothe tops of Tooth the upper sections 37 l and the lower sections 38 of the continuous downhurning vertical flue channels. As shown in Fig. 1, vertical coke oven gas ducts 91lead through the top 39 of the battery structure respectively into the tops of the upper flue sections 37 of each heating wall forthe purpose of supplying coke oven gas tothe to s of the downburning continuous flues, during coke oven gas operation of the 'm battery. These coke oven gas ducts 91 may be; equipped with the usual nozzles (not shown) and receive a supply of coke oven gas-from a coke oven gas main. Within each nozzle block 41 is a vertical coke oven gas a 4) provided with a'nozzle, not

shown. The vertical duets 93 lead directly.

into the tops of the lower flue sections 38'for the purpose of supplying coke oven gas to the topsof such flue sections as are operating '1 ggm tog downflow combustion. The ducts 93 are suppliedwith coke oven as from horiz0n talsupply channels .95, which extend lengthwise through the respective heating walls 12, as shown in Fig. 1, and intersect all of. the nozzle blocks 41. Thechannels 95 may be suppliedfrom a coke oven gas main running lengthwise of the battery. Suitable reversing mechanism is provided for permitting asupply of coke oven gas to the upper ducts 91 and also ducts 93 that lead into downburning flue sections, and for cutting off the supply of gas from'the flues of the heating walls which operate for exhaust of waste gases. During coke oven gas operation, the inflow regenerators A and P of either series R or S may be employed for conjointly feeding air to the flues, or, if desired, one regenerator may feed air andthe other diluent waste gas, in accordance with the diluent principle. The required additional air supply for maintaining combustion in the lower flue sections 38 comes from the feed channels 72 and 82. In ordinary coke oven gas operation both channels 72 and 82 feed air to the tops of the lower flue sections 38, and in diluent coke oven gas operation the channels 72 may feed air and the channels 82 diluent waste gas. The exhaust of the waste gases from the upflow operating flues is effected in exactly the same manner as in producer gas operation.

The transverse channel 144, which forms the main feature of the present invention, preferably extends the whole length of the battery and serves in common all of the heat ing walls. In large batteries however more than one transverse channel may be used, each serving a group of at least four heating walls.

The. preferred employment of the transverse channel 144 is as described, viz., to carry waste gases from a series of segregated flame traversed heating walls into a series of segregated waste gas traversed heating walls. It is however within the scope of the invention to employ transverse channels each duct connected with three or more heating walls, in lieu of the ducts of the above mentioned application Serial No. 684,342 which connect the two opposite walls of vertical retorts by passing around the end of each alternate single retort. In such an adaptation of the invention each transverse channel 144, inone working period, would distribute air or lean gas to the several heating walls served thereby, and in the next working period-would convey waste gases from the same heating walls, whereas in the illustrated embodiment of the invention the transverse channel is, or the transverse channels are, always traversed by waste gases.

Referring more particularly to the regenerator arrangement described and illustrated herein, it will be seen that not only are all the inflow regenerators and flame traversed heating walls arranged at one end of the battery and all the outflow regenerators and waste gas traversed heating walls at the other end of the battery, with only one place of division between these two battery portions between which different internal draft suctions prevail, but also that in lean gas operation no fuel regenerator P is ever alongside a waste gas regenerator W. An air regenerator 5. always intervenes between the waste gas regeneratorsW and the fuel gas regenerator P nearest thereto.

Where a group of ovens such as shown in Fig. 2 constitutes a block or unit forming part of a battery containing more than one such block or unit, the regenerator disposi tion and reversing mechanism of the next block or unit to the left is preferably so organized that its group of inflow regenerators is alongside the group R of Fig. 2. This arrangement gives maximum segregation of chambers and passages subject to similar internal draft conditions; it also maintains in lean gas operation, the insulation of fuel gas regenerators from waste gas regenerators when the groups K and L contain an odd number of heating walls and the extreme outside regenerator is a fuel gas regenerator P, as is the case in Fig. 2. When the groups K and L contain an even number of heating walls the extreme outsideregenerator of the group R is an air regenerator A and the insulation of the gas regenerators Pis maintained irrespectively of the regenerator arrangement in a neighboring block or unit.-

As a consequence of the segregation of all the outflow regenerators at one end of the battery, and all the inflow regenerators at the other end of the battery, internal partitions in the regenerator spaces can be largely eliminated. Thus in Fig. 2 double width regenerators are employed in both groups R and S except at the ends of the groups, instead of pairs of narrower regenerators. In a battery in which air only has to be preheated, all internal partitions in each regenerator group could be eliminated, each group R and S thus becoming a sin le large regenerator chamber.

My invention is hereinabove set forth as embodied in one particular form of construction, but I do not limit it-thereto or to less than all the possible forms in which the same invention as hereinafterclaimed may be embodied and distinguished from prior devices.

I claim:

1. In a vertical retort battery: 'a series of alternate vertical retorts and flued heating walls therefor, arranged side by side; said heating walls being operatively disposed in groups of at least two heating walls each, operable for inflow combustion and outflow of waste gas in alternation with each other; means for conveying heating gases extending continuously and transversely of at least four heating walls in an adjoining pair of said groups; and duct connections from therespective heating walls to the conveying means; whereby to conduct the combustion products from thefiues of a plurality of the heating walls in one of the groups to the fines of a plurality of the heating walls in another of the groups as one of the groups is fired in alternation with another of the groups. a

2. In a vertical retort battery: a series of alternate vertical retorts and fined heating Walls therefor, arranged side by side; reversible regenerators; duct connections communicably connecting the regenerators and the fines of the heating walls; said heating walls being operatively disposed in groups, of at least two heating walls each, operable for inflow combustion and outflow of waste gas in alternation with each other; means for conveying heating gases extending continuously and transversely of at least four heating walls in an adjoining pair of said groups; and duct connections from the respective heating walls to the conveying means; whereby to conduct the combustion products from the fines of a plurality of the heating walls in one of the groups to the fines of a plurality of the heating walls in another of the groups as one of the groups is fired in alternation with another of the groups.

3. In a vertical retort battery: a series of alternate vertical retorts and vertically flued heating walls therefor, arranged side by side; reversible regenerators; duct connections communicably connecting the regenerators and the fiues of the heating walls; said heating walls being operatively disposed in groups, of at least two heating walls each, operable for inflow combustion and outflow of waste gas in alternation with each other; means for conveying heating gases extending continuously and transversely of at least four heating walls in an adjoining pair of said groups; and duct connections from the respective heating walls to the conveying means; whereby to conduct the combustion products from the fines of a plurality of the heating walls in one of the groups to the flues of a plurality of the heating walls in another of thegroups as one of the groups is fired in alternation with another of the groups.

4:. In a vertical retort batteryz'a series of alternate vertical retorts and fined heating walls therefor, arranged side by side; reversible regenerators; connections forconveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the fines of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the fines of the heating walls; said heating walls being operatively disposed in groups, of at least two heating walls each, operable for inflow combustion and outflow of waste gas in alternation with each other; waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely of at least fourheating walls in an adjoining pair of said groups and duct connections from the fines of 'themepective heating walls to the conveying -means;-whereby to conduct the combustion i oducts from the flues of a plurality of the lting'walls in one of the groups to the fiues 5 of: a,plurality of the heating walls in another wt file groups as one of the. groups is fired in alternation with another of the groups.

154 111 a vertical retort battery: a seriesof "-altematevertical retorts and vertically fiued heatingl walls therefor, arranged side'by side; levers: le'regenerators; connections for conalternately in successive periods precombustion medium from the regenrcmtowto'the-flues of the heating walls and "w Manta mesto the regenerators from the fiues oi the tin walls ;said heating walls being .opemtively isposed in groups, of at least vt wc heatiing--wallseach, operable for inflow 'oomlgustanmzandoutfiow of-waste gas inaltery-ltltiong-with-each otherywaste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely of -at hashfour heating walls in an-adjoining 'roof saidgroups; and duct connections mm the fines of the respective heating walls tothe oolnveying means; whereby to conduct the oombustion products from the fiues of a plurality-eithe heating walls in one of the cups to the fiues of a plurality of the eating walls -in another of the groups as 130MB of thegroups-is fired in alternation with whether ofithergroups.

finlmavertiealaetort battery, a plurality obvertical retorts, vertically fiued heating Mulls flanking saa'd retorts, reversible-vertical u flnw-megenerators, connections between the topstq'f theregenerators and the tops of the vertical-fines m the heating walls for con v'eying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium and waste. gases from the regenerators to the vertical fiuesand mgversely, waste .gas'conveying means extamling continuously transversely to at least ,founheating wallg and duct connections from tllebflttmnsof the vertical flues of the respeci tigve-heating walls to said conveying means.

. fl lma vertical retort battery, a'plurality '01 \vertieal f retorts, fluid heating walls flankinggaid retorts and disposed therewith in a row extending-along one side of the battery, m Reversible T regenerators communicably connacted with the flues of said heating walls lnddisposed .in* a row extending along the "vppoeite side of the battery, and means for 1 conveying. heating .gasesfrom the fiued heatws ingrwalls at one side of the'centre of the row to'the flued heatingwalls-at the opposite side qflilo'oentre of the row. ;-r8,.-In'a-vertioal retort battery, a. plurality -of wettical retorts, vertically fiued heating Mm wlflaflankingeaid retorts'and disposed there- 'twlibhvin anew extending along one side ot the ilttlly meversible regenenators communica- *hly mnnectd with the fines ofwsaid heating Walls and: disposed. i-n-a rowiextending along mmfllmdpflbiite sideof the battery, means ummsio for conveyingheating gases from the fiued heating wallsat one side of the centre of the row to the fiued heating walls at the opposite side of the centre of the row.

9. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, vertically fiued heating .walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewithin a row extending along one side of the batterynreversible regenerators disposed in a row extending along the opposite side of the battery, connections between the tops of the regenerators and the tops of the verv*tical flues for conveying therebetween alternately in successive periods preheated combastion medium and waste gases, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four heatingwalls, and duct connections from the bottoms of the'vertical fiues of the respective heating walls to said conveying means.

' 10. In a vertical retortbattery, 'a plurality :of vertical retorts, vertically fiued heating walls fiankingsaid retorts and disposed therewith in a rowextending along one side of the battery, reversible'regenerators disposed in a row'extending along the opposite side of the "battery, direct duct connections between the tops oftheregenerators and the tops of the 'vertical'flues in the heating walls, a channel continuously extending transverselyto at least four heating walls and duct connections fromsaid channel to the bottoms of the several heating walls.

11. In a'vertical' retortbattexy, a plurality of verticahretorts, vertically fiued heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row extending along one side of the 'battery,'reversible'regenerators disposed in a row extending along the opposite side of the batteryydirect duct connections between the tops of'the' regenerators and the tops of thevertical flues in the heating walls, a channel continuously extending transversely to atleast four heating walls 'and located between the rowof'regenerators and the row of retorts and heating walls, and duct connections from said channel to the bottoms of the fines in-severalheating walls. I

12. In a vertical retort battery, an odd number of vertical retorts, fiued heating walls alternating with theretorts, and disposed= therewith in 'a: row, F reversible regenerators disposed in a row alongside and at substantially the same level as the row of retorts and heating'walls and with the inflow and outflow 'regenerator portions respectively segregated on opposite sides of the center of' the row, and a system of duct connections communicating with said regenerators and-withsaid fiued heating walls anti-so organized that the middle retort may havemlways aninfiow heating wall on one side and a an o'utfiow heating wall on the opposite side'andretorts on one side of the m'iddle'retort may have all theirfiuedwalls fed by inflow, whilst retorts on the opposite side of the middle retort may have all their flued walls adapted to discharge into outflow regenerator portions in any period between draft reversals.

13. In a vertical retort battery, an odd number of vertical retorts, flued heating walls alternating with the retorts and disposed therewith in a row, reversible regenerators disposed in a row alongside-and at substantially the same level as the row of retorts and fined heating walls and with the inflow and outflow regenerator portions respectively segregated on opposite sides. of the center of the row, a system of duct connections communicating with said regenerators and with said flued heating walls and so organized that the middle retort may have always an inflow heating wall on one side and an outflow heating wall 011 the oppo site side and retorts on one side of the middle retort may have all their fined walls fed by inflow. whilst retorts on the opposite side of the middle retort may have all their flued walls adapted to discharge into outflow regenerator portions in any period between draft reversals, and means for admitting fuel gas to some of the regenerators other than those at the junction between inflow and out flow regenerator portions.

lapln a vertical retort battery, an odd number of vertical retorts, flued heating walls al ernating with the retorts and disposed therewith in a row, reversible regenerators disposed in a row alongside and at substantially the same level as the row of retorts and flued heating walls and with the inflow and outflow regenerator portions respectively segregated on opposite sides of the center of the row. a systemof duct connections communicating with said regenerators and with saidflued heating walls and so organized that the middle retort may have always an inflow flued heating wall on one r sideand an outflow flned heating wall on the opposite side and retorts on one side of the middle retort may have all their flued walls fed by inflow, whilst retorts on the opposite side of the middle retort may have all their flued walls adapted to discharge into out flow regenerator portions in any period hetweendraft reversals, and means for admitting t'uel gas to interior regenerator portions.

15. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators, connections extending separately to both up per and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the fluesof the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four heating from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously'extending transversely to at least four flued heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the respective heating walls to said conveying means, and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

l7..In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical flues in the beating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, groups of reversible regenerators comprising pairsof regenerators operable either conj-ointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to theflues of theheating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four flned heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the respective heating walls to said conveying means, and means for supplying rich gas to the vertical flues.

- 18. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-byside vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, groups of reversible regenerators comprising pairs of regenerators operable either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a lean-fuel gas and air, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the heating walls and waste gases from the flues of the heating walls and the regenerators, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the respective flued heating walls to said conveying means, and rich gas conduits column nicating with both upper and lower flue scctions.

'19. In a vertical retort battery, n pl ity of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of uppar and lower flue sections, reversible regeneratorsdisposed in a row along the opposite side of the battery, means for operating said regenerators either conj ointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a. lean fuel gasand air, connections extending separate- 1 "to both upper and lower flue sections of t e heating walls for conveying alternately insucceesive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the fiues of theheating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flued heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously extendin transversely to at least "four heating wa ls, and duct connections communicably connecting the respective flued heating walls to said conveying means.

20. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lame flue sections, reversible regenerators disposed in'a row along the opposite side of the battery, means for operating said regenerators in pairseither conjointly for pre heating air or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sectime of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the fluesof the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heatwalls, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four flued heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the respective heating walls to said conveying means, and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower sections.

21. Ina vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one sideof the battery, vertical fiues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators disposed in a row along the opposite side of the battery, means for operating said regenerators in pairs either conjointly for preheatingair or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air, connections from the tops of the regenerators extending separately toboth upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of the heatingwalls. andwastegases toqthe regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously ex tending transversely to at least four heating walls, duct connections cominunical'ily connecting the bottoms of the respective fined. heating walls to said conveying means and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

22. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts, and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators disposed in a row along the opposite side of the battery and with the inflow and outflow regenerators segregated at the opposite sides of the row, means for operating said regenerators in pairs either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air with an air regenerator at the end of the inflow group next the outflow group, connections from the tops of the regenerators extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying 'means continuously extending transversely to at least four heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the bottoms of the respective flued heating walls to said conveying means and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

23. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators disposed in a row along the opposite side of the battery and arranged in side-by-side groups adapted to operate in alternation with each other for inflow and outflow and with the inflow and outflow groups regenerators segregated at opposite sides of the centre of the row, means for operating said regenerators in pairs either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air, a lean gas supply of said means communicating with only interior regenerators of the groups, connections from the tops of the regenerators extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, waste gas conveying means continuously extending transversely to at least four heating walls, duct connections communicably connecting the bottoms of the respective fiued heating walls to said conveying means and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

24. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections or the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from there generators to the flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the cheating walls, a single waste gas channel extending transversely to the heating walls and continuously for substantially the 'ty of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking whole length of the batter and ductconnections communicably connecting the respective fiued heating walls to said waste gas channel. '25. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical fines in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of theheating walls for conveyingalternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the 'flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, a single waste gas channel extending transversely to the heating wallsand continuously for substantially the whole length of the battery, duct connections communicably connecting the respective flued heating walls to said waste gas channel, and rich'gas conduits communicating withboth upper and lower flue sections. 26. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical'retorts, heating walls intermediate said retorts, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators, connections extendingseparately to both upper and lower flue sections of theheating walls for conveying alternately in, successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the fines of the heating 'walls and waste gases to the regenerators' from the flues of the heating walls, a'singlewaste gas channel extending transversely .to th e heatmg walls and continuously for substantially the whole length of the battery, duct connections communicably connecting the respec tive flued heatingwalls to said waste gas channel, and means for supplying rich gas to the vertical flues.

27. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of side-by-side vertical retorts, heating walls intermediate said'retorts, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, groups of reversible regenerators comprising pairs of regenerators operable either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a lean fuel gas and air, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustlon medium from the regenerators to the fines of the heating walls and waste gases to the connecting the respective fined-heating walls to said waste gas channel, and rich gas conduits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections. a

28.In a vertical retort battery, a pluralisaid retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical flues in the heating walls constituted of upper and lower flue sections, reversible regenerators disposed in a row along the opposite side of the battery, means for operating said regenerators either'conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating a'lean fuel gas and air, connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of .the heating wall and waste gases to the regenerators from the lines of the heating walls, a single waste gas channel extending transversely to the heating walls'and continuously for's'ubstantially the whole length of the battery and duct connect-ions communicably connecting, the respective fluid heating walls to said'waste gas channel.

' 29. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking said retorts and disposed therewith in a row along one side of the battery, vertical lines in the heating walls constituted of upper and the battery, means for operating said regenerators in pairs eitherconjointly for preheat- I ing air or separately, for preheating a lean fuel gas and air,connections extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combus t-ionrmedium from the regenerators to the fines of the heating walls ,and' wastev gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, a single waste gas channel extending transversely to the heating walls and continuously for substantially the whole length of the battery, duct connections communicably connecting the respective fluid heating walls to said waste gas channel, and rich gas conduits communicating withboth upper and'lower fluesections.

a 30. Ina vertical retort battery, a plurality of wertical retorts, heating walls flanking said mtorts and disposed therewith in a row i do oneside of the battery, vertical flues 5 in t cheating walls constituted of upper Ind lower flue sections, reversible regenerators dis (1 in a row along the opposite aide-of the battery, means for operating said rotors in pairs either conjointly for m pmhcatin air or separately for preheating tr. a lug gas and air, connections from the to of the regenerators extending separatelytwhcth. upper and lower flue sections of thmheptingfiwalls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the re raters from the flues of the heating Willie I single waste gas channel extending m Warmly to the heating walls and continfor substantially the whole length of the battery, duct connections communicably the respective fluid heating walls a Waste gas channel, and rich gasconan .duits communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

3 1. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of vertical retorts, heating walls flanking Said retorts, and dis deed therewith in a row It! alongone side of t e battery, vertical flues the heating walls constituted of upper and liiwer fluesections, reversible regenerators disposed in a row along the opposite sideof the battery and with the inflow and outflow rators segregated at the opposite side at therow, means for operating said regeneratqrs in pairs either conjointl for preheating air or separately for pre eating a lean fuelgae and air with an air regenerator at p the end of the inflow group next the outflow group, connections from the tops of the regenerators extending separatel to both uppar and lower flue sections the heating walls. for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerates-s to the fluesof the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, a single channel extending transversely to heating. walls and continuously for subthe whole length of the battery, duct -Mfi9fl8 communicably connecting the, re-

'7 fluid heating walls to said waste gas L el, and rich gas conduits commnicating A5 5 b th upper and lower flue sections.

3,2. In a vertical retort battery, a plural- Q venicnmmns, heating walls flankgng said retorts and disposed therewith in a MJQIOB ,Q Q sideof the battery, vertical .1 in #156 heating walls constituted of up- Pfi; lower. line sections, reversible regenr a '5. di po e like IQW long the opposite side P: the; batteryand with. the inflow and :ptfieiw geLneIatQrssegr gatQd at opposite d of the im of the rommeans. for op.-

crating said regenerators and pairs either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheatin a lean fuel gas and air, a lean gas supply 0 said operating means serving only interior regenerators of the groups, connections from the tops of the regenerators extending separately to both upper and lower flue sections of the heating walls for conveying alternately in successive periods preheated combustion medium from the regenerators to the flues of the heating walls and waste gases to the regenerators from the flues of the heating walls, a single waste gas channel extending transversely to the heating walls andcont-inuously for substantially the whole length of the battery, duct connections communicably connecting the respective fluid heating walls to said waste gas channel, and rich gas conduits-communicating with both upper and lower flue sections.

33. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of blocks or units arranged side by side and each comprising a row of alternate vertical rctorts and fluid heating walls therefor arranged side by side and extending alongside a row of reversible regenerators communicably connected with the flues of the heating walls, said blocks having their respective heating walls operatively disposed in two seriesoperable in alternation with each other for inflow and outflow, the inflow heating walls and inflow regenerators being segregated at one end of each block and the outow heating walls and outflow regenerators segregated at the other end of each block, and a channel continuously extending across the ends of the heating walls in the block and communicably connected to the flues of the heating walls of the block.

34. A vertical retort battery consistin of a plurality of blocks or units as specific in claim. 33 arranged side by side with the similarly functioning halves of neighboring blocks next each other.

' 35. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of blocks or units arranged side by side and each comprisinga row of alternate vertical retorts and fluid heating walls therefor arranged side by side and extending alongside a row of reversible regenerators communicably connected with the flues of the heating walls, saidblocks having their respective heating walls operatively disposed in two serieso able in alternation with each other for i ow and outflow-the inflow heating Walls and inflow regenerators being segregated at one end and the outflow heating Walls and outflow regenerators at the other end of each block, means for operating the regenerators in pairs either conjointly for preheatingair or separately for preheating air I. lean gas said means being organized so that a regenerator for air is always present at the junction place between inflow and, outflow regcnerators of each block, and

a channel continuously extending across the ends of the heating walls in the block and conimunicably connected to the fines of the heating walls of the block.

36. A vertical retort battery consisting of a plurality of blocks or units as specified in claim 35 arranged sideby side with the similarly functioning halves of neighboring blocks next each other.

37. In a vertical retort battery, a plurality of high vertical retorts, heating Walls flanka row extending along one side of thebattery, vertical flues in said heating walls having intercommunicating upper and lower flue sections, burners at the upper ends of both sections of each flue, a waste heat channel extending continuously transversely to the heating walls and communicably connected separately to the bottom of each flued wall, reversible regenerators extending in a row along the opposite side of the battery, direct duct connections from the tops only of the regenerators to both upper and lower burners, sole channels at the bottoms only of the regenerators for admitting the medium to be preheated and discharging the waste gases, means for operating said regenerators in pairs either conjointly for preheating air or separately for preheating air and a lean gas and with a regenerator for air always at the end of the inflow group of regenerators that is next the outflow group of regenerators, and a rich gas supply duct to each burner.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set lng said retorts and disposed therewith in 

